Means and device to control and regulate the flow of surface water.



K. J. ENSMINGER. MEANS AND DEVICE T0 001mm AND REGULATE THE PLOW OFSURFACE WATER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1913.

L1A8$o Patented July 21, 19144 an smarts ATENT WE KOSSUTH J. ENSMINGER,F HAMERSVILI'E, OHM). MEANS AND DEVICE TO CONTROL AND REGULATE THE FLOW01F SURFACE on-ass.

Specification 011' Letters Patent.

Patented July 211, 19314 Application filed November 28, 1913. serial No.803,666.

To all whom it may concem 'lBe it known that I, KOSSUTH J. ENS- vicesfor controlling and for regulating the flow of surface water whichresults from rain and from melting'snow, for the purpose of reducing andpreventing the rapid rise and consequent overflow of rivers and of theirtributaries, streams, creeks, runs etc. It is considered that one of theprincipal causes of the rapid rise in such water courses is the shorttime in which surface water which results from heavy orv extended rainsor from sudden thaws reaches them.

The objectof my invention is to check and retard the flow of surfacewater in a manner that it reaches its natural courses and outlets only.gradually, thus afiording time for the larger courses, rivers andstreams to carry this addition of at a rate substantially or nearlyequal to the rate at which it arrives and in a manner which does notmaterially aflect their normal level.

The plan of my invention provides for the checking ofthis surface waterin those formations of the surface of a water-shed or river-basin inwhich it first seeks to collect,

as in cuts, fissures, gullies, ravines, and farther along in rivulets,brooks, the smaller creeks and finally in the larger ones. As to thelarger courses like streams and rivers, similar protection near or atthe banks is merely contemplated.

Another object of my invention is to use means which, after once placedin position, require very little attention and in the main take care ofthemselves. These means consist ofliving plants, like willows andrelated species, also plants of the shrub and hedgeforming type andwhichare suitable for the soil. in which they are to be planted and wherethey-are expected to grow. In. other words,living checks or dams areprovided in a water-shed at suitable-intervals across the courses namedwhich feed the larger bodies of water. In time, undergrowth resultswhich by means of drift, floating matter like leaves, wood etc, carriedalong by the water, would be rendered more or less dense, yet ascompared with dams, it would not form an absolutely closed obstructionto the flow of water like these and which is not contemplated. On thecontrary it would permitthe water to pass ofi' but only gradually so asto lengthen the time in which the water from one branch would meet orenter another branch or reach final outlets. Thus reduced volumes ofwater-only wouldmeet or reach outlets so that sudden and dc: structiverises in normal levels would not occur.

F or the further explanation ofmy plan, I refer now to the drawing whichpresents substantially a stretch of territorycomprismg a water-shedadjacent a river or stream and feeders thereof which carry the surfacewater into the same.

In the drawing A, represents this large bodyof water. B- -B are largerfeeders like tributaries, creelm andM are smaller feeders like brooks,rivulets etc. DD. may represent ground formations like depressions,cuts, ravines and gullies ,which not necessarily carry water andaremostly dry except during a rainor thaw. Across all of these,

T provide my living plant-checks, the plants -where a depression wouldmerge into a small feeder or brook C. There would also be one at c wherea small feeder joins a larger one and finally there would he one at. bwhere a tributary empties into river A. Spaced back from these checks atpoints hlghr up, additional checks would be established in each course,first spaced closer .tov

each other'especially at steeper grades so as to have a check for everydrop of surface as I represented by a certain number of feet or inches.At'higher altitudes, for instance,-

and where the land assumes the character of I form part of farm land,the checks might.

assume the form of hedges, the plants being selected with a view toornamental efiect or for practical purposes, as black-berry bushes forinstance in the latter case.

7 Various incidental advantages are connected with my plan, forinstance, the rapid flow of the water being checked, the land will notbe torn by ever increasin fissures and waste of alluvial soil isprevente Preservation of fish, particularly game fish, is also favoredsince the destruction of the spawn is prevented. This is also due to thefact that the water is clear since most of the sand and gravel arefiltered out. a

The water being distributed over large surfaces from which evaporationmay take place, will produce a more even rainfall, thus removing one ofthe causes leading to destructive floods.

Plants, shrubs and trees should be selected after due consideration ofall circumstances, and those of the perennial class are preferred.

Having described my invention,"I claim as new: 7

1; Means for controlling and for regulating the flow of surface waterresulting within the water-shed of a river, stream, etc. these meansconsisting of checks formed of living plants arranged in the feeders andsurface depressions adapted to collect and to carry oif surface water,said plants being set so close that resulting undergrowth willeventually meet and arranged in rows disposed across the course of thesefeeders so as to retard the flow of surface water collecting therein,but without positively stopping such flow.

2. Means for controlling and for regulating the flow of surface waterresulting within the water-shed of a river, stream, etc, these meansconsisting of checks formed by rows of living plants arranged in thefeeders and surface depressions adapted to collect and to carry off thesurface water, said plants being set in rows so as to be transverselydisposed across the course of 001- lecting surface water and the checksso formed being spaced from each other and placed at intervalsthroughout the water courses so as to retard the flow of surface waterfrom one check to the other but without positively stopping such flow.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the resence oftwo witnesses. KOS UTH J. ENSMINGER. Witnesses:

C..S1 ENGEL, A. JoHNsoN.

